This is the way it always goes

[Geri_rose]

Very Happy that I lost 4 pounds last week and to celebrate I have eaten what I liked on Mon and Tues..can anyone tell me why I always do this!! Disappointed in myself!!

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello Geri_rose

What did you eat (or not eat) to lose 4lbs? Often these spells of over eating are a reaction to too few calories. 😕

Before I started this current eating and fitness plan, I used to associate ‘dieting’ with deprivation, limited calories and hunger. Then I would blow the ‘diet’. What is different this time is that I eat what I like, (in limited amounts), no longer feel deprived and hence don’t feel the need to ‘break’ the diet.

Finding the right way of eating that suits you, that is sustainable and can be followed long term is key. Please join in with the Daily Diary if you need help and support with your daily food choices. 😊

Best wishes

Anna

[Geri_rose 4lbs in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Hi Anna..I followed MyFitnessPal last week and logged in everything I ate..i think at 18 Stone plus following the MyFitnessPal that suggested I have 1400 calories a day the 4 Ibs fell of me..i find lack of willpower does me and also for some stupid reason me celebrating the loss of 4 Ibs by over eating was definitely not a good move and has made me feel awful!!

[jonuts2000 in reply to Geri_rose]

No wonder you feel awful 1400 calories is way too low. Best to use the fitness Pal just to log your calories but you need to check NHS BMI calculator to ensure you know how much you should be eating. I get 1700 calories at 5ft 2inches so pretty sure you've been starving yourself and your body will hang on to fat for that reason. Good luck and don't give up it's all a learning curve.

[Geri_rose 4lbs in reply to jonuts2000]

Thank you for reply..i will do as you suggested..I am 18stone 5Ibs 5' 4" and myfitnesspal said the amount of calories i should be having..i will check again..knowing me I've done it wrong!

[Geri_rose 4lbs in reply to Geri_rose]

I just checked myfitnesspal i have been having 1420 calories as they recommended

[jonuts2000 in reply to Geri_rose]

Ignore fitness Pal suggestion it says I only get 1200 which I'd never be able to sustain. Search for NHS BMI calculator and follow their suggestion. If your not already try following the NHS 12 week plan I wouldn't be where I am now without it. 2 dress sizes down, 6 inches off my waist and .3kg away from my health BMI. Good luck with whatever you choose just try to find something that you can sustain without being miserable.

[Geri_rose 4lbs in reply to jonuts2000]

Thank you.I will and congratulations on what you have achieved.

[jonuts2000 in reply to Geri_rose]

Thank you, it's all possible as long as we keep trying although my motivation is struggling with this last push to my goal. Anything has got to be easier than sticking to the starvation diet fitness Pal suggests.

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Geri_rose]

So sorry for the delay in responding Geri_rose

As jonuts has said, 1400 is far too low, using MFP is great but you also need to factor in any exercise, which will bump up your totals. 😕

I’ve had a quick look at the NHS BMI checker and it comes out with a calorie range of 1834-2358 for your height and weight.

I can’t strss this enough, the single biggest cause of weight loss failure is not eating enough and then falling off the wagon

I hope you find this helpful

Anna

[Geri_rose 4lbs in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thank you Anna..very helpful..I have been going to bed hungry on the 1400 calories and suffering with a headache..Don't know if this is related.

I don't know if anyone else feels this but I feel I have to eat and drink as little on a diet as possible..because I look at a diet as a punishment for over eating that I have done in the past that has bought me to being 18 Stone+

[Nigel6731 in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Quite right Anna. On my diet I haven't gone hungry. If I'm hungry I'll eat something. The difference is that it will be something healthy (usually!).

[grannydoug Maintainer]

Geri_rose - did you continue logging what you ate on the Monday and Tuesday when you went off-track? I find that by logging everything- the good 😊and the bad 😨 - makes me feel more responsible for my eating. By that I mean that the first thing you need to be is honest with yourself, as you have been here, but on an hourly/daily basis.

When I've had a disappointing week I can look back and there it is in black and white. No kidding myself at the time! It brings me to my senses. And helps to create a better pattern of my eating.

So instead of celebrating 🎉 (been there/done that!) can you use the loss as strong motivation 👍 to continue with what you did correctly? Imagine how you'll feel with a regular loss each week. It doesn't have to be 4lbs at a time. Anything will do- even the occasional 'stay the same'.

☆Maybe use an article of clothing to notice the difference in your body shape as you progress - weighing isn't the only measurement.

☆Did you measure yourself at the start - waist/hips etc. It's amazing how incredibly motivating that can be - and it doesn't take long to see the changes.

☆Take a 'before' photo now so you can compare it regularly with your 'now' pictures of the future.

Wishing you all the best!

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to grannydoug]

Great advice grannydoug 😊

[Geri_rose 4lbs]

Hi thank you for reply..No I did not log on for the couple of days..although it kept reminding me that I had not logged on..me being me carried on eating to celebrate weight loss and now as I say feel awful..

[Geri_rose 4lbs in reply to Geri_rose]

I have taken a photo and my very kind 9 Stone daughter took a video of me dancing..can't bring myself to watch it again..once was quite enough🙈

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Geri_rose]

Oh no! I’ve got videos of me that I cringe to watch . . . 😕

[AdriK]

Hi Geri - I continue to battle with this as well. Even now when I have (hopefully successfully) stopped the actual overeating the desire to do it sometime remains.

For me I have found that the reason is: I started the journey (and in the past started it many times) from a place of shame & guilt. Once I loose weight the bad emotions lift and boom - the eating starts.

In addition to this I get cocky when it starts to work and I don't actively engage in my eating plan (planning, weighing portions etc). For a while it still works in terms of weight loss but slowly the "extra' creeps in.

So what have I done to change the cycle? I work very hard to remind myself that this is about health and feeling confident and not about shame and hiding. I also actively engage with my eating plan every day and part of that is reading my email and following the conversations that resonate with me. Its slow and burdensome some days but it is working for me.

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to AdriK]

Great reply AdriK 😊

[Geri_rose 4lbs in reply to AdriK]

Thank you Adrik for reply..You are so right..It is about health and confidence..I started this journey last week thinking I had to lose weight to look good at my Daughter's wedding but since reading your reply and reading what other people are saying i now realise this should be done for my healthy and well-being snd to give me more confidence..thank you once again for your advise.

[grannydoug Maintainer in reply to Geri_rose]

It sounds like you've found the right key Geri_Rose and now you're on the right path! Great! Alrick has given you great advice. This time I had decided that enough was enough and made my purpose to reduce my BMI so I could get into the 'healthy' range (I was 3 stone overweight and classed as obese and I hated the word and myself for being there for many years). I also had my grandbaby's christening ahead and a wedding but I used them as the carrot! BMI was the target. It worked which proved to me that in my case my mind (which had acted as a barrier) was now one of my biggest tools to reach my goal! Good luck and be kind to yourself. 💕

[grannydoug Maintainer in reply to grannydoug]

Oops! AdriK not Alrick!

[MadCosmopolitanWoman]

Oh dear this sounds a little bit like me. However so many good ideas on here so hopefully can put a stop to this forever. Thank you